Drill rod valve mechanism



Oct. 25, 1.932. E. wHlNNEN DRILL ROD VALVE MECHANISM Filed Jan. 17. 1951 v HTT'Y.

Patented ocr. 25, 1932 f UNITED STATE:SA

EUGENE WIIINNEN, oF oKoTo'IIs'ALBERTA, CANADA, AssIGNoR To SULLIVAN p i MACHINERY coMPANILxA CORPORATION oF'IvIAssAcHUsETTs f DRILL RDVVALVE MECHANISLI. A y

Application ined January 17, 1931. serialy No. 509,412.

This invention relatesto drilling apparatus, and more particularly toimprovements in a valve mechanism for thedrill rods of a drilling apparatus of the oil and gas .well

An object of this invention is to provide an improved valve mechanism for a drill rod. Another object is to lprovide an vimproved check valve for a drill rod whereby i'luid 10 flow through the rod is controlled. A further object is to provide an improved valve mechanismk that can be set, before VYitis run into the hole, so that fluid may pass'in either direction, andwhich may, at will, befreposi- 25 tioned irrespective of its position inthe hole to preclude passage of yHuid except in the downward direction. yStill another object is to provide an improved check .valve for a drill rod whereby the valve' parts ,may be zo locked in position against the pressure of the gasin the hole when the rod is raised from the hole, thereby preventing the flow of oil or gas upwardly through the drill rod during hoisting of the rod. Yet' another object is vto provide an improved valve mechanism for aedrill rod wherein the valve may remain open during the loweringof the rod in the hole and may be closedwhen the rod is Vpositioned at the bottom of the hole. These and other objects and' advantages oi the invention will, however, 'subsequently more fully appear. 1

In the accompanying drawing there` is shown for purposes ofillustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing,-` .I .Y g .l y... Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section Vthrough the illustrative form of the improved valve mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l showing the parts in a different position; Y. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transversek line 1--4.- of Fig. 2. Y A

In this illustrativeconstruction the improved valve mechanism, generally designated 1, is shown supported by a coupling 2 connecting rod sections 3 and 4 of a drill rod.

section taken l on The rod section 3 is threadedly connected at 5 to the coupling 2, whilethe rod section 4E isl threadedly connected to the coupling at 6. In the present form of construction the improved valve mechanism 1'l is arranged adjacent the lower endof the rod line Vfor purposes to be hereinafter mentioned.

` Nowv referring to the improved' Vvalve mechanism 1 in detail, it will be observed that supported for sliding by the bore of the coupe ling 2 isa.tl'lbularfplungerv normally held in'its raised positionby a coil spring 8 encircling thebody of the plunger and inter'- posed between the upper end of the coupling 2 and a lshoulder 9 at theupperendfofl the plunger. Threadedly connectedatlO to the lower end of the plunger is a stop collar 11, while interposed between the 4lower end ofthe coupling and this stop collarand surrounding the plunger, is av-washer 12. The walls ofthe plunger 7 are perforated adjacent the upper end ,lof the. coupling 2i by a port 13 as shown in Fig. 1. "Extendingcentrally throughthe plunger is a longitudinal lpassage'-14f, Vand iuid iow through this passage liscontrolled, when port l131s closed. by ,an automatic check valve 15 normally lheld in closed position by a coiled spring'l herein acting between 'a'nut 17 threaded at the upper end of the valve stem and abridgeY member` 18 spanningthe upper relatively lrestricted end; 19U of,y the passage 14. .Carried within lthe ,plunger 7 adjacent the lower end thereof is a fiat transversely eXed spring 20 having Vits ends guided inapertures 21'formed in the walls ofthe plunger as shown in Fig. 1. j When the parts are in the vposition shown in Fig, 2,7that is when the vent port 13 is closed, the endsof this spring 20 are adapted to spring outwardly to underlie the lowerend of thecoupling thereby locking the vent port 13 in'its closed position. It will thus be seen thatl the check valve 15 is adapted to control the iiow fof fluid through the longitudinal passage-1 14 in the valve plunger 7 and that the vent port 13 controls the flow of fluid through the rodsecscribed.

' The method of closing the vent port 13 -consists'of operating 'the fluid circulation pump connected to the upper end of the drill rod and pumping oil under high pressurev overcoming the pressure of the gas and forc-V ing the plunger downwardly againstthe upper end of the vcoupling 2 thereby moving the vent port 13 to its closed position within the coupling, as shown in Fig. 2, cutting olf the flow of fluid therethrough. The plunger 7 is locked automatically in its closed position, as shown in Fig.- 2, by the spring 2O the ends of which, when the parts assume the position shown, move outwardly to underlie the bottom of the coupling 2 thereby forming a positive lock for the parts.

lVhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, and the rod is full of oil, any attempt to pull the rod line out of the hole without first allowing the oil to escape from the rod would result in what is called a wet ull, and the oil would be sprayed all over the derrick every time Va rod joint is uncoupled at the ground surface of the Well. To overcome this undersirable feature as far as possible, the check valve 15 is provided to permit the flow of oil from the drill rod downwardly past the valve mechanism 1. If the well is making high pressure gas the gas attempts to flow upwardly through the yrod but is prevented from doing so by the automatic check valve 15, so it is possible to raise the rod from the hole without any'oil or gas escaping upwardly through the rod.

The improved drill rod valve mechanism 1 is particularly useful in conjunction with mechanism for cleaning the debris from the bottom of the hole. During this hole cleaning operation the valve mechanism 1 is attached in the rod line immediately above a sediment trap or dbris collecting deviceof a well known form. When the rod is lowered into the hole, the inlet opening of the sedi` ment trap is closed by a frangible closure member, for instance a glass cap, so that gas is prevented from entering the sediment trap and blowing up through the .rod and flowing out on the derrick floor or'up in the derrick. During the lowering of the rod in the hole the valve mechanism 1 is heldv open by the spring 8. When reaching the bottom of the hole, the frangible closure member is broken by impact with the hole bottom thus yopening the inlet of the sediment trap.. It will be understood that when the frangible closure member above referred to is broken the sediment trap is at the bottom of the hole fso that there is no danger of damage being done by gas flowing upwardly through the rod, for the gas then flows up through the sediment trap, past the valve mechanism 1, through the rod and out through the fluid circulation hose in the manner well understood in the art. This flow of gas is not sufiicient to pick up the dbris at the bottom ofthe hole and carry it into the sediment trap, so fluid under pressure, as for instance oil, is then pumped down the well outside the drill rod Vso that after a sufficient quantity of oil has been pumped down the hole to practically fill it, the oil begins to flow vup through the sediment trap, rod valve andl rod, and fluid circulation hose and is conducted back Vto theoil sump. This circulation of oil picks up the dbris in the bottom of the hole and carries it into the sediment trap. The drill rod is now ready to be withdrawn from the hole so that the sediment trap may be detached from therod yand the debris may be removed therefrom, so it is now desired to prevent further flow of 'oil and gas upward I through the sediment trap, rod valve, 'and rod.V The vent port 13 of the val-ve mechanism is then closed by pumping circulation down through the rod, in the ordinary way, and the rod withdrawn from the hole in the manner above described. Theseand other uses and advantages of the improved drill rod valve mechanism will'be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. l

, While there is in this application specifi Y,

cally described one may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form ofthe same is shown for purposes of illustration and thatl the invention form which the invention 'i f may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

1. A drill rod valve mechanism compris. ing av supporting body, a valve controlling fluid flow through the rodjincluding a valve plunger movably mounted in said body and having a fluid passage therethrough, said valve being controlled by the pressure of the fluid controlled thereby, and an automatic check valve carried by said valve plunger for controlling the fluid flow through the passage in said plunger.

ice

lio

2. The combination with a drill "rod through which fluid is adapted to be vcirculated under pressure, of a valve mechanism includingl a valve for controlling fluid flow through the rod and controlled by the pressure of the circulation fluid, and a supplemental valve for controlling fluid flow through therod when said first mentioned valve is closed.

3. The combination with a drill rod ifathrough which fluid is adapted to be circulated under pressure, of a valve mechanism including a valve for controlling fluid flow through said rod and controlled by the pressure of the circulation fluid, and an auto- .matic check valvefor permitting fluid flow through the rod in one direction when said first mentioned valve is closed and preventing automatically fluid flow in the opposite direcv Y tion.

4. The combination with a` drill rod through which fluid is adapted tobe circulated under pressure, of a valve mechanism including a movable valve element for permitting upward fluid flow through said rod and controlled by the pressure of the circulation fluid, and a supplemental valve carried by said valve element for permitting downward fluid flow past said valve element when the latter is in its closed position.

5. The combination with a drill rod through which fluid is adapted to be circulated under pressure, of a valve mechanism including a movable valveelement for controlling fluid flow through said rod and controlled by the pressure of the circulation fluid, and an automatic check valve carried by said valve element for permitting flow of fluid past said valve element in one direction when the latter is in its closed position and preventing automatically flow of fluid past said valve element in the opposite direction.

6. The combination with a drill rod through which fluid is adapted to be circulated under pressure, of a valve mechanism carried by said drill rod within'the latter and including a closable valve element for controlling fluid flow through the rod and controlled by the pressure of the circulation fluid, and a supplemental valve for controlling fluid flow past said valve element when vthe latter is in its closed position.

7. The combination with a drill rod vthrough which fluid is adapted to be circuposition and for preventing automatically Cal fluid flow past said valve element in the opposite direction.

8. The combination with a drill rod through which fluid is adapted to be circulated under pressure, of a valve mechanism carried by said drill rod within the latter and including a reciprocable valve element for controlling fluid flow through the rod and controlled by the pressure of the circulation fluid, and a supplemental valve carried by said reciprocable valve element for controlling fluid flow past said valve element when the latter is in its closed position.

9. The combination with a drill rod through which fluid is adapted to be circulated under pressure, of a valve mechanism carried by said drill rod within the latter and including a reciprocable valve elementrfor.

vcontrolling fluid flow'throughthe vrod and controlled by the pressure of the circulation fluid, and an automatic check valve carried by said reciprocable valve element for controlling fluid flow past saidvalve element in one direction when the latter isin its closed position and for preventingautomatically vfluid flow past said'valve element in the opposite direction.

` 1G. The combination with a drill rod comprising rod sections and a coupling member connecting said rod sections, of a valve mechanismincluding a hollow sleeve valve mounted in said coupling member for controlling fluid flow through the rod and closable to prevent fluid flow upwardly through the rod, said valve having passage means for conducting fluid therethrough.

11. The ycombination with a drill rod coml prising rod sections and a coupling connecting said rod sections, of a valve mechanism mounted within the said coupling and including a valve element Jfor controlling fluid flow through the rod and an automatic check valve for permitting flow through the rod in one direction when said first mentioned valve is closed and preventing automatically fluid flow through the rod in the opposite direction.

12. The combination with a drill rodthrough which fluid under pressure is adapted to be circulated, and comprising rod sections and acoupling connecting said rod sections, of a valve mechanism slidably mounted within said coupling for controlling fluid flow through the rod and controlled by the pressure of the circulation fluid and automatically Vclosable to prevent fluid flow upwardly through the rod, said valve mechanism including a tubular valve element through which the fluid may flow.

13. A drill rod valve mechanismy for controlling fluid flow through a drill rod and openable to permit fluid flow i-n either direction through the rod and closable at will irrespective of the position of the valve mechanism in the drill hole, and means for automatically locking said valve mechanism in its closed position. t

14;. In a drill rod valve mechanism, a valve openable to permit fluid flow in either direction through a drill rod and closable at Will irrespective of the position of the valve mechanism in the drill hole, means for automatically locking said valve in its closed position, and an automatic check valve for permitting flow of fluid in a downward direction through the rod but preventing automatically fluid flow in an upward direction through the rod.

15. In a'drill rod valve mechanism, a valve for permitting fluid flow through a drill rod in eitherdirection and closableby the pressure of the fluid in the rod, means for automatically locking said valve in its closed position,

and a valve for permitting ilow of fluid through the rod in only the downward direction when said rst mentioned valve is closed. f, Y 16. In a drill rod valve mechanism, a valve for permitting fluid flow through a drill rod in either direction and Closaole hy the pressure of the fluid in the rod7 means for automatically locking said Valve in its closed position, and a Valve for permitting flow of fluid through the rod in only the downward direction whenseid first mentioned valve is closed and automatically closalole by the pressure of the iuid in the rod to prevent fluid tiow upwardly through the rod. ln testimony whereof affix my signature.

EUGENE WHINNEN. 

